Receiver-hook switch for portable telephones



i J. T. GRAY. RECEIVER HooK SWITCH EoH PORTABLE TELEPHONES.

AFPLICATIOHTILED AUG-13| i919.

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Patented May 245 MZK.

UNTED STATES JOHN T. GRAY, 0F GREAT FALLS, MONTANA.

RECEIVER-HOOK SWITCH FOR PORTABLE TELEPHONES.

Application filed August 13, 1919.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. GRAY, a c1t1- zen of the United States, residing at Great Falls, in the county of Cascade and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Vin Receiver-Hook lSwitches for Portable Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved receiver hook actuated switch for portable desk telephones in which the contact elements of the switch, when the latter is open, are spaced apart an adequate distance to afford protection to the telephone circuits from lightning and other electrical discharges.

With this and other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds the invention comprises the novel features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be YmoreJ fully described in the following specication and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the portable desk telephone illustrating the invention applied to use.

Fig. 2 represents a bottom plan view of the telephone, the bottom plate or cover of the hollow base being removed.

Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portable desk telephone illustrating a modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similarreference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates the usual hollow base of a conventional type of portable desk telephone provided with the usual vertical upstanding hollow standard or upright 6 in which the telephone receiver hook 7 is pivotally mounted at 8.

A supporting plate 9 is mounted in the hollow base 5 and carries the series of depending supporting ears 10 to which the switch arms 11 are pivotally secured. The opposite terminals of the arms are connected by-an insulating bar 12 and a series of spring contact members 13 are secured to the larms A11 and are adapted for engagement with relatively stationary contact posts 14 secured to the Supporting plate 9. The spring contact members 13, however, are normally maintained in spaced relation to the contact posts 14 by the springs 15 the Speccation of Letters Patent.

A rat-@atea May at, rear.

Serial No. 317,233.

medial portions of which are looped about the pivot pins of the arms 11 and the terminals of which are engaged with the arms and with the Supporting ears 10.

At a point intermediate the pivotal axis 8 and the receiver engaging terminal of the arm 7, the latter is pivotally connected at 16 with a rod 17 extending vertically within the hollow upright 6 and carrying an insulating member 18 at its lower terminal which is mounted in an aperture in the supporting plate 9 and is guided in its vertical movement thereby. The lower extremity of the engaging member 18 rests upon the center conducting arm 11 and the tension of the springs 15 which normally retain the arms 11 in elevated position acts to elevate the rod 17 and owing to the connection of the rod with the Vreceiver hook 7 the latter is maintained in elevated position when relieved of the weight of the telephone receiver. However, upon replacement of the receiver upon the hook 7 the tension of the springs'l is overcome by the weight of the receiver thereby depressing the rod 17 and causing thespring contact members 13 to move into spaced relation with the contact posts 14 and thus brealn'ng the circuit, fragments of the conductors of which are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Y

ln the modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the rod 17l which is the equivalent of the rod 17 of the type of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is constructed in two sections, the upper section being formed of insulating material and having pivotal connection with the centrally disposed arm 33 as indicated at 32. Except for the type of connection between the hook actuated arm and switch arm and the elimination 'of the arm actuating springs 15 for the type of switch shown in Fig. 1, the type of switch shown in Fig. 3 is identical with that of Fig. 1. The switch is supported upon the base plate 30 and arranged within the hollow base 31 of the telephone. A spring 34 is confined between the base plate 30 and a stop collar 35 on the rod 1711 whereby the receiver hook and switch varms are normally retained in elevated position. This form of the invention is embodied in the application primarily to illustrate the elimination of the springs 15 of the switch shown in Fig. 1, and to illustrate the utilization of the spring 34 as a means for actuating both the receiver hook and switch.

By the application of the improved switch structure to portable telephones of this type the throw of opening movement transmitted to the switch by the receiver hook is increased to such extent as to provide a large air gap between the contacting elements of the switch when the receiver is replaced, thereby insuring against injury to the conductors and instruments of the telephone system and consequent loss and damage by Shock vand lire to persons and property adjacent to the telephone incident to 0verloading of the line by excessively high electrical currents frequently encountered during electrical storms and by interference with external sources of high tension currents. t is also evident that by variations in the relative arrangement and size of the respective mechanical elements of the structure the extent of movement of the switch may be accordingly varied to increase or decrease the length of the spark gap according to the dictates of. varying conditions Y Y and requirements.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a telephone, a base connected with an upright, a switch upon a supporting plate within saidbase, saidswitch comprising an arm pivoted to said base and having at its freeend Va contact member adapted to en-v gage a contact member on saidl supporting plate, a rod within the upright and extending through said supporting plate, the lower portion of said rod engaging said pivoted arm intermediate between its point of support and `the contact member carried by it,

y a receiver hook pivoted to the upright and pivotally 'supporting said rod and means comprising a resilient member for closing the switch when the hook is raised.

2. In a telephone, a base connected with an upright, a switch upon a supporting plate within'said base, saidl switch comprising an arm pivoted to said base and having at its free end a contact member adapted to engage a contact member on said supporting plate, a receiver hook pivoted to the upright, a rod depending from said receiver hook and extending from within the upright through said supporting plate, the lower portion of said rod engagin@r said pivoted arm intermediate `between the point of support of and the contact member upon the arm and means comprising a spring coil coperating with said plate and said rod for closing the switch when the hook is raised.

`3. In a telephone, a base connected with an upright a switch upon a supporting plate within said base, said switch comprising an arm pivoted to said hase and having at its free end a contact member adapted to engage a contact member on said supporting plate, a receiver hook pivoted to and emerging from the upright, a rod depending from said re'- ceiverhook at a position between the pivot and where the hook emerges from the upright, said rod extending from within the upright through said supporting plate, the lower portion of said rod-engaging said pivoted arm intermediate between the point oiE support and the contact member upon the armand means comprising a spring coil cooperating with said plate and said vrod'for lowering said pivoted arm when said hook is 1 lowered and orraising said pivoted arm and closing the switch whenthe hook is raised. Y

a. In a telephone, a base connected with plate, areceiver hook pivoted to said up? right, a rod depending from said receiver hook and extending Jfrom within the upright through said supporting plate, the lower portion .olsaidV rod freely contacting with saidpivoted arm intermediate between thepoint 0f support of and the contact member uponthe arm and means comprising a `resilient member upon said pivoted arm for closing the switch when the hook is raised.

5. In a telephone, a base connected with an upright, a switch upon a supporting plate within said base, said switch comprising anV arm pivotedtosaid base and having at itsfree end a contactmember adapted to engage a contact member on said supporting plate, a receiver hoolr pivoted to and emerging from said upright, a rod depending from said receiver hook at a position between the pivot and where the hook emerges from the upright, said rod extending Jfrom within the l upright through said supporting plate, the lower portion of said rod freely contacting said pivoted armintermediate between the pointof support of and the contact member upon the arm and means comprising a resilient member upon said pivoted arm and a spring coil cooperating with said plate and said rod for lowering said pivoted arm when said hook is lowered and for raising said pivoted arm and closing the switch when v the hook is raised. 1

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature hereto.

JOHN T. GRAY. 

